Chief Minister identifies opportunities in infrastructure, tourism, entrepreneurship and the creative economy, calls for long-term partnerships to advance inclusive development and Viksit Bharat
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has called for stronger partnerships between governments, businesses, civil society and communities to address development challenges, urging corporate India to expand its engagement with Nagaland and the Northeast through investment, innovation and sustained collaboration.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural ceremony of the 13th edition of the One Purpose India Forum (OPIF) 2026 at Hotel Pullman, New Delhi Aerocity, Rio said development partnerships must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives and contribute to the national vision of Viksit Bharat.
Organised by CSRBOX, the three-day forum is being held from October 26 to 28. It brings together stakeholders from government, business, philanthropy and the development sector to promote collaboration across corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental, social and governance (ESG), sustainability and social innovation.
Congratulating CSRBOX and its partners for convening policymakers, corporate leaders, philanthropists and development practitioners, Rio said the evolution of the India CSR and ESG Summit into the One Purpose India Forum reflected growing recognition that development required collective effort and shared responsibility.
Partnerships must deliver lasting impact
Rio said the true measure of development was not merely the resources mobilised or projects undertaken, but the lasting difference made in people’s lives. CSR, philanthropy and sustainable development, he said, must lead to better opportunities, stronger communities and an improved quality of life.
He noted that CSR had evolved into an important instrument for social investment and community development, with corporate and philanthropic institutions contributing not only financial resources but also technology, innovation, research and professional expertise to strengthen public initiatives.
While governments must identify development priorities and create an enabling environment, corporate and philanthropic partners should complement these efforts through expertise, resources and sustained commitment, he said. He also stressed the need for credible institutions, transparent processes, accountability and the documentation and measurement of successful initiatives so that effective practices could be replicated.
Meaningful change, he added, required long-term partnerships rather than short-term interventions.
Nagaland’s cultural and creative potential
Highlighting Nagaland’s biodiversity, cultural diversity, living traditions and vibrant communities, Rio described the State as an emerging hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, music, arts and the creative economy.
He said the annual Hornbill Festival had gained international recognition as a celebration of Naga cultural identity, bringing traditional heritage and contemporary creativity together while connecting the State with the wider world.
Reflecting on Nagaland’s history, Rio spoke about Naga resistance during British colonial expansion and the ongoing effort to repatriate ancestral human remains held abroad. The State Government, in collaboration with the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, is undertaking an exercise in repatriation and decolonisation. The remains are expected to arrive in India later in November.
He also recalled the Battle of Kohima during the Second World War, describing it as a decisive episode that halted the Japanese advance towards the Indian subcontinent and highlighted the region’s strategic importance.
Despite geographical challenges, infrastructure gaps, limited resources and an uncertain political environment, Rio said the people of Nagaland, particularly its youth, had continued to contribute significantly to nation-building.
He cited Dr. Talimeren Ao, captain of India’s first Olympic football team at the 1948 London Olympics; filmmaker Theja Rio and his film Angh; para-athlete Hokato Hotozhe Sema; and the Nagaland Madrigal Singers as examples of talent bringing recognition to the State and the country.
“If our people can achieve so much despite tremendous hurdles, imagine how much more they can contribute with the right support, encouragement and opportunities, especially through the goodwill and partnership of corporate India,” he said, urging businesses to help unlock the State’s potential in the creative economy, innovation and start-up entrepreneurship.
Investment opportunities and priority sectors
Rio highlighted the role of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) in facilitating engagement with corporates, investors and development partners. Through this institutional mechanism, the State is seeking to connect its development priorities with organisations that can contribute expertise, resources and innovative solutions.
The government alone cannot address every development challenge, he said, emphasising the importance of private-sector participation and philanthropic institutions in accelerating progress.
He identified education, skill development, sports, entrepreneurship, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, women-led enterprises, environmental conservation, water security, climate-resilient agriculture and community-based development as key areas for collaboration.
Rio also called for local enterprises, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage to be linked with modern technology, professional expertise and wider markets to create sustainable livelihoods while preserving Nagaland’s distinct identity.
Northeast as a gateway to Southeast Asia
Positioning Nagaland and the wider Northeast as an emerging gateway to the East, particularly the ASEAN region, Rio highlighted the region’s strategic location, connectivity potential and longstanding cultural ties with neighbouring Asian societies.
He pointed to the Trans-Asian Highway as an important link connecting the Indian subcontinent with Southeast Asia and beyond, saying these geographical and cultural advantages offered opportunities for economic growth.
He urged corporate India to look beyond CSR initiatives and explore investments in logistics, infrastructure, manufacturing hubs and economic zones across the region.
Rio also highlighted the vision of Nagaki, envisaged as a future global city in the foothills of Nagaland, alongside opportunities in natural resources, tourism, the creative economy and sports.
Such partnerships, he said, could align nation-building objectives with business growth and investment while creating opportunities for local communities in a region with considerable untapped potential.
Rio invites corporate and philanthropic community to Nagaland
Describing OPIF as an important platform bringing together CSR, ESG, philanthropy, sustainability and innovation, Rio expressed hope that the three-day deliberations would lead to concrete partnerships, stronger institutional relationships and practical outcomes.
On behalf of the Government and people of Nagaland, he invited corporate and philanthropic organisations to visit the State, explore its development priorities and establish collaborations that were locally relevant, professionally implemented and mutually beneficial. He assured prospective partners of the State Government’s full cooperation and support for initiatives aimed at improving people’s lives.
Concluding his address, Rio said the vision of Viksit Bharat must ensure that geography did not constrain opportunities and that every State, district and village had the chance to progress.
Economic growth, he emphasised, must go hand in hand with social inclusion, environmental sustainability and community empowerment. The success of collective development efforts would ultimately be measured by the lives improved, opportunities created and lasting value delivered for future generations. (With DIPR inputs)
